Adjustable support for feeding equipment and the like



Oct. 31, 1961 N. A. GussAcK ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR FEEDING EQUIPMENT AND THE LIKE Filed May 6, 1960 INVENTOR NATHAN A. GUSSACK MMM A TTpRNEYs.

United States Patent O 3,096,481 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR FEEDING EQUIPMENT AND THE LIKE Nathan A. Gussack, Yonkers, N.Y., assigner to Grant Pulley & Hardware Corporation, West Nyack, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 6, 1960, Ser. No. 27,317 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-117) This invention relates to an improved adjustable support which is particularly suitable for use in the support of feeding containers, especially containers for slow feeding application, such as containers of blood plasma, intravenous feeding solution, and the like.

Without limitation thereto, my improved adjustable support is particularly suitable for use in hospitals, for instance in the bedside treatment of patients. In the case of intravenous feeding, enemas, supply of blood plasma to the human system, and other applications, it is necessary that a container be supported above the level of the patient in accurate selected and maintained position, that such position be readily adjustable and that the support `apparatus be readily moved out of the way when not in use. The apparatus must be durable, readily cleaned, easy to use, relatively foolproof in operation and economical to make and maintain.

It is extremely important that the position of the snpported container be 4accurately adjustable and accurately maintained, since frequently the exact position of the container is important in helping to insure the proper llow of liquid from the container to the patient. Thus, without limitation thereto, the invention is particularly suitable in the support of dispensing containers which supply liquid by gravity to the human system. In the case of gravity flow of such liquid, the adjusted height of the container above the level of the patient is extremely important, and ftuthermore, the adjusted position in a horizontal plane is sometimes important for proper support of the tubing leading from the container to the human system.

An important object of my invention is to provide an adjustable support which will meet the requirements listed above. A further particular object of my invention is to provide an adjustable support which may be readily moved in a horizontal plane and which may also be readily raised and lowered vertically. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjustable support may be raised or moved in a horizontal plane without the need for operation of any latches. Further in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, the simple operation of a latchl permits lowering off the support by gravity.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description, in co-njunction with the annexed drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawing,

FIG. l is a side elevation of my improved adjustable support.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation, partly in vertical section, of the upper portion of my improved support, and is drawn `to enlarged scale and is parti-ally broken away.

FIG. 3 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, similar to FIG. l, but drawn to enlarged scale, and showing the apparatus fragrnent-arily to illustrate a detail thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FlG. 2, but showing a lower portion of the support.

FIG. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

Upon reference to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that they show a ceiling track 10, from which is suspended tube 11. Rod 12 is telescoped in and vertically ICC slidable in tube 11, and carries at its lower end a support 13 for container 14.

Ceiling track 10 may be of any suitable conventional construction Iand is not shown in complete detail. Track 10 includes -a longitudinally elongated channel 2t), whose upper wall 26a is adapted to be attached to a horizontal ceiling by any suitable means (not shown). Said channel 2t) has inwardly turned lateral bottom anges 21. Trolley 22 has front and rear side rollers 23, which ride on `the respective flanges 21. Coupling 24 extends downwardly from trolley 22 between flanges 21 and supports hook 25 at the lower end thereof.

The use of the overhead track and trolley is highly preferred, since it makes it possible to move the adjustable support from one station to another; for instance, from one bed to another or along the length or width of the bed.

Tube 11 is suspended from hook 25 so as to extend vertically, by reason of gravity. Said ltube 11 is optionally substantially cylindrical in shape. Preferably, said tube 11 is open-ended. Cap 30, which releasab-ly closes the upper end of -tube 11, has depending peripheral wall 31, which is internally threaded so that it may be screwed upon the externally threaded upper portion 11a of tube 1d. Ring 32 is extended through a diametrical bore of cap 3G, and said ring 32 is releasably supported upon hook` 25 in the well-knovm manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Optionally and preferably, bushing 33 is fixed within tube 11 at the lower end thereof. Optionally and preferably, a further bushing 34 is xed within tube 11 at a point somewhat above the lower end of tube 11, but at a point considerably spaced from the upper end of tube 11.

Latch lever 40 is pivotally mounted on tube 11 below the level of bushing 34, by means of bracket 41. This bracket 41 may take any suitable form and optionally and preferably includes a collar portion 41a, which extends around tube 11 `and is secured thereto by spot welding 41h or any other suitable means. Said collar portion 41a is provided with a pair of flanges 42, which extend radially outwardly from tube 11. The ilattened central portion 40a of latch lever 4t) extends between flanges 42 and is pivotally secured thereto by means of transverse pivot 43.

The lower end portion of latch lever 40 is bent into ring shape `and is designated by the reference numeral 44, said ring piece 44 being hereinafter referred to `as ingerpiece 44. Said ngerpiece 44 is connected to the central lever portion 40a by an inclined connection portion 45, such that lingerpiece 44' is normally spaced from tube 11 a substantially greater distance than pivot 43. Said fingerpiece 44 extends generally parallel to the axis of tube 11.

Fingerpiece 44 connects with the inclined lever portion 45 by means of a lever portion 45a, which is substantially co-planar with fmgerpiece 44. Pin 46 extends transversely from lever portion 45a toward tube 11 and in a radial direction with respect thereto. Coil spring 47 extends radially with respect to tube 11 with pin 46 extending therethrough. The outer end 47a of spring 47 is connected to lever portion 45a by any suitable means (not shown). The inner end of spring 47 engages against the peripheral wall of tube 11. Spring 47 urges ngerpiece 44 outwardly. Accordingly, the upper end of lever 45, above pivot 43, is urged radially inwardly, or toward tube l1.

Lever 40 is provided at its upper end with a generally horizontally extending stop portion or latch 48, which has a concave inner end 48a. This stop or latch `48 connects with the central lever portion 40a by means of a the normal position of FIG. 3.

The peripheral wall of tube 11 has a circular opening 9, located on a level with stop 48, with spring 47 Vnormally exerting a bias upon lever 40 for location of stop 48 through opening 9 and within the interior Wall of tube 11. This is clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Rod 12 which is optionally generally cylindrical, is divided by a series of spaced, annular peripheral grooves or notches into a plurality of main rod sections 6G, together with top rod section 60a and bottom rod section 60b. Each said annular groove or notch `has a cylindrical inner wall 61, and a transverse upper end Wall 61a. The lower end wall 62 of the groove is frustrodconical and is downwardly outwardly tapered. The lower end of Wall 62 is of the same diameter as rod section 60. The upper end of wall 62 is of the same diameter as inner groove wall 61.

Groove wall 61a serves as a shoulder to prevent downward movement of rod 11 against stop 48. Groove wall 62 serves as a cam to permit upward movement of rod 11 against stop 48. 'I'hese points will be discussed below.

The top cylindrical rod section 60a is modified with respect to rod sections 60. The top rod section 60a is of reduced length. In addition, it has a threaded, axial bore 63 extending downwardly from the top face thereof. A screw shank 64 is threaded into bore 63 and connects at its upper end with an elongated cylindrical head 65. This head 65 has a screw slot 65a in the upper end thereof. The diameter of head 65 is substantially the same as the diameter of the bore of tube 11, and hence greater than the diameter of the bore of bushing 34. Accordingly, head 65 is slidable in tube 11, but the outer annular portion 6512 of the lower end face of head 65 serves as a shoulder which abuts the upper end of bushing 3'4 to serve to limit the downward movement of rod 12 with respect to tube 11.

The lower rod section 60b is also slightly modified with respect to rod sections 60. Said lower rod section 6017 is slightly longer than rod sections 60. Container support 13 includes a pair of longitudinally extending stub arms 70 which are fixed to opposite faces of rod section b, slightly above the lower end thereof, by means of welding 70a or any other suitable means. A pair of support arms 71 extend radially outwardly from the respective ends of each stub arm 70, these arms 71 being disposed approximately 90 degrees apart.

A ring 72, of diameter less than the length of the respective arms 71, is secured centrally to the lower edges thereof, by welding 72a or the like, in order to strengthen the structure. The outer end of each arm 71 is formed into the shape of a hook 73. A further hook 74 is optionally and preferably suspended from the lower end of rod section 6Gb.

One or more containers 14 may be suspended from hooks 73. In the event that there is only one container `14, it may optionally be suspended centrally from the central hook 74, which affords greater stability to the adjustable support.

The assembly of the adjustable support is as follows:

With cap 30 removed from tube 11, rod 12 is extended through the bottom tube 11 and to the upper end thereof. Shank 64 is screwed into bore 63 of rod section 60a, and head 65 is extended into the bore of tube 11, through the open top thereof. Cap 30 is then screwed onto the top of tube 11.

The operation of the improved adjustable support is as follows:

vThe support is suspended from hook 25.

' In the normal position of the latch lever 40, with the stop portion 48 extended into the bore of tube 11, the concave edge 48a of the stopabuts groove wall 61, and stop 48 is located under groove wall 61a, thereby preventing downward movement of rod 12. The force exerted downwardly upon stop 48, by the weight of rod 12 or as the result of pulling rod 12 downwardly, tends to pivot the lever 40 about the axis of pivot 43 in such a Way as to tend to wedge stop 48- even more tightly in position. This prevents accidental slippage of rod 12 into a lower position, which would have possible serious effects upon the feeding operation from container 14.

In the even that rod 12 is to be lowered, rod 12 or support 13 may be grasped -With one hand, and finger piece 44 may be pushed toward tube 11, against the action of spring 47, so as to withdraw stop 48 from the bore of tube 11. This permits the lowering of rod 12 to selected point, at which point fingerpiece 44 is released, and stop 48 again locks rod 12 from further downward movement. y In the event that it is desired to raise rod 12, it is merely pushed upwardly, without any action exerted being directly upon lever 4i). Groove inner wall `6-1 slides upwardly'frictionally against the concave edge I48a of stop 48. Groove wall 62 then strikes against the concave edge 48a of stop v43, and forces stop 48 radially outwardly, with lever 40 correspondingly turning about the axis of its pivot 43, until stop 48 clears cam 62 and rides frictionally against the outer periphery of rod section 60. When rod section 60 rises above the level of stop 48, stop 48 clicks back into locking position against groove wall 61. It will be apparent that rod 12 may be raised the desired number of sections y60, at will.

The limit of upward movement of rod 12 is reached when head `65 is located adjacent cap 3i), as shown :in the position of FIG. 2. The extreme downward position of rod 12 relative to tube '11 is reached when head 65I abuts bushing 34, which position is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 1 shows an intermediate position of rod 12.

It Iwill be apparent that the function of bushing 33 is to serve as a bearing or guide for the tube portions 60. Preferably, the length of bushing 33 is greater than the distance between adjacent rod sections 60, to be certain that no radial dislocation `of rod 12 will occur when the groove between sections 60 iirst enters the bore of bushing 33 from either direction.

It will be apparent that tube 11 and rod 12 may have any suitable interfitting shape which permits rod 12 to be telescoped in tube 11. Furthermore, the grooves or notches between rod sections 60 need not extend around the entire periphery of rod 12 and need merely be wide enough to receive stop or latch 48. In any event, such groove or notch has an upwardly inwardly inclined lower cam surface and an upper portion which connects at its top with a rod section by means of a transverse shoulder which serves as the upper surface of the groove.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

. I claim:

1. An adjustable support for hospital feeding equip- V' ment and the like comprising an open ended tube, a cap for the upper end of said tube, means releasably mounting said cap on the upper end of said tube, a ring mounted upon said cap for suspension of said ring from a hook on ceiling and the like so that said tube depends vertically from said ceiling, a bushing within the bore of said tube and below the upper end of said tube, a rod extending slidably into said tube and slidably through the bore of said bushing, a head of enlarged diameter releasably attached to said rod above said bushing, said head being slidable within said tube but being of greater diameter than the diameter of said bushing, said rod extending below said tube, support means for containers and the like secured to the lower end of said rod, said rod having a plurality of spaced annular peripheral grooves to divide said rod into a plurality of rod sections, each said groove being shaped to provide a cylindrical upper inner wall portion o said groove with said groove having a transverse upper surface, each said groove being further shaped to provide a frusto-conical lower inner cam wall portion of said groove which connects at its end of smaller diameter with said cylindrical wall portion and at its end of larger diameter with the next succeeding lower rod section, a latch lever, means pivotally mounting said lever intermediate its ends on the outside of said tube with said lever being turnable about a transverse axis, spring means between the lower end of said lever and said tube urging the upper end of said lever radially inwardly, a generally horizontal, inwardly radially extending stop connected to the upper end of said lever, said tube having an opening in the wall thereof through which said stop normally extends, said stop being adapted to frictionally abut said rod, said stop normally frictionally abutting the cylindrical groove wall portion and the transverse upper surface of said groove to prevent lowering of said rod, said lever being movable by pressing the lower end thereof toward said tube so as to withdraw said stop from said groove for lowering of said rod, said cam wall portion being adapted to force said stop radially outwardly upon raising of said rod so that said stop rides against the periphery of a rod section.

2. An adjustable support for hospital feeding equipment and the like comprising an open ended tube, a cap for the upper end of said tube, means releasably mounting said cap on the upper end of said tube, means mounted upon said cap for suspension of said tube from a hook and the like on a ceiling and the like so that said tube depends vertically from said ceiling, a bushing Within the bore of said tube below the upper end of said tube, a rod extending slidably into said tube and slidably through the bore of said bushing, a head of enlarged diameter releasably attached to said rod above said bushing, said head being slidable within said tube but being of greater diameter than the diameter of said bushing, said rod eX- tending below said tube, support means for containers and the like secured to the lower end of said rod, said rod comprising a plurality of cylindrical main rod sections and cam sections connecting successive main rod sections, each said cam section comprising a truste-conical portion connecting at its end of larger diameter with the top of a main rod section and connecting between the bottom of a main rod section and the other end of said frusto-conical portion, and latch means mounted on said tube for releasably engaging said other ends to releasably maintain said rod in selected vertical positions.

3. An adjustable support for hospital feeding equipment and the like comprising an open ended tube, a cap for the upper end of said tube, means releasably mounting said cap on the upper end of said tube, a ring mounted upon said cap for suspension of said ring from a hook on a `ceiling and the like so that said tube depends vertically from said ceiling, a bushing within the bore of said tube and below the upper end of said tube, a rod extending slidably into said tube and slidably through the bore of said bushing, a head of enlarged diameter releasably attached to said rod above said bushing, said head being slidable Within said tube but being of greater diameter than the diameter of said bushing, said rod extending below said tube, support means for containers and the like secured to the lower end of said rod, said rod comprising a plurality of cylindrical main rod sections and cam sections connecting successive main rod sections, each said cam section comprising a frusto-conical portion connecting at its end of larger diameter with the top of a main rod section and a cylindrical portion of smaller diameter than that of the main rod section and connecting between the bottom of a main rod section and the other end of said frnsto-conical portion, and latch means pivotaliy mounted upon the outside of said tube, said latch means including a latch positioned and adapted to engage against a cam section and spring means normally urging said latch radially inwardly, said latch serving as a stop for engagement against the cylindrical portion of the cam section and the lower face of the main rod section connecting therewith to normally prevent lowering said rod, said latch being movable to a released position thereof in which said latch completely clears said rod for lowering thereof, said frusto-conical portion being adapted to engage in said latch and move it radially clearingly outwardly when said rod is raised.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 766,890 Newberg Aug. 9, 1904 773,241 Wilton Oct. 25, 1904 951,593 Clarke Mar. 8, 1910 1,599,616 Hamburger Sept. 14, 1926 1,740,520 Murphy Dec. 24, 1929 1,858,595 Parker May 17, 1932 2,612,336 Tuttle Sept. 30, 1952 

